The mind can work to your detriment at times, not so? In my specific case it plays all sorts of tricks on me at the height of a trip in that I walk right past the duty-free shopping malls at airports on the premise that they sell useless stuff I’d really have no use for, no matter how hard I tried. Well, there was one occasion on which I bought what turned out to be the best chocolate I’ve ever tasted in my entire life, leaving me feeling like a naughty schoolboy because of how big it was and just how much of it I went on to eat in one go.

Anyway, apart from that dangerously delicious chocolate pyramid (yes, it was shaped like a pyramid), all they really sell are cigarettes and fragrances and stuff. Sure, it’s duty-free, but is there any real use for it?

At the moment, I see absolutely no use, but the tricks my mind plays on me have me ruing the missed opportunities I perhaps had to stock up on popular gift items that people enjoy receiving, such as those cute Personalised Candles at Kindred Fires, or perfumes, or premium coffee beans (after all, people do love their coffees!). I suppose I could have sent them internationally by airmail. It’s always a bit of a back-and-forth scenario, a lot of which has to do with the fact that I like to travel so light that I just carry a backpack, which goes into the cabin with me as carry-on luggage. I never check a bag in so I wouldn’t have any space to put those items in any case, especially since they’d perhaps just be waiting around for the special occasions of my loved ones to come around, after which time I can then send them.

Otherwise, I guess this discussion brings to light a very important issue that I’m yet to fully master, which is indeed that of staying on top of the dates of the special occasions of one’s loved ones. Birthdays and anniversaries are still easy, but how often do you remember the birthday of or memorial day for someone’s cat? The thing is, if they are close to me then I’d love to send them a nice poster of their cat from Purrspective Boutique or some other gift like that, but it’s never as easy as you think it is. There are obstacles in the way.

When you’re trying to organise the very dynamic aspects of something like a spontaneous backpacking adventure, the dates which are most important to you are those which have something to do with the expiration of your visa, how much ‘capital’ you have before you run out of money, etc.

It’s not that difficult though. I mean that’s why Facebook is there, isn’t it? I don’t even bother with too much in the way of extravagance and everybody who knows me knows that I kind of despise duty-free shopping malls. If anyone is going to pin the authenticity of our relationship on my memory of their birthdays while I’m away somewhere then they’re just setting themselves up for disappointment.

I do make an effort whenever I can though, such as having small thank you gifts sent out, which don’t necessarily come from wherever in the world I may be at the time. I can just jump online for example and have a gift sent through from Broadway Basketeers. In any case, that’s probably where I’d buy the gifts if I was back home or closer to home.

Similarly, even if my loved ones are battling life-threatening illnesses like cancer and may not feel like celebrating their birthdays, I make every effort to ensure that the day doesn’t pass by as just another ordinary day. If I can’t be there in person to offer my support, I try to send them a basket filled with practical and comforting Gifts for Cancer Patients or something that conveys the message that recovery is on its way. This is my way of expressing my love and support, serving as a reminder that they are always in my thoughts.

Sometimes, it’s these small gestures and tokens of affection that help maintain connections with your loved ones, even when you have a busy and travel-intensive lifestyle. Sending postcards and heartfelt letters can also serve as meaningful ways to stay connected and share your love, bridging the physical distances that may separate you.

Ultimately, it’s the intention and effort you invest in maintaining these connections that truly matter. While it can be challenging to remember special occasions, especially for those with dynamic and spontaneous lifestyles, setting reminders can help you stay on top of important dates and make plans to celebrate them, as best as you can, given your circumstances.